Roll up, Roll up for the Circus Fair!

Roll up, Roll up!
Circus Fair
St John's Caterham
6 June 2026

The show must go on, so the tents were assembled, the unicycle prepared, the BBQ fired up and the performers prepared.

Opened by Sonia the Caterham Town Crier, the fair was soon in full swing, with exploding dogs (inflatable ones), decorated biscuits (clown faces), spinning plates (at the refreshments and the circus skills tent), the Sundance Kid working some kind of arrowing angle (it looked like Robert Redford) and preloved goods, toys and games, plants, books, cakes and jams flying off the shelves.

Cancerhelp provided many goods and much support and sound advice.

There were tests of skill (egg roll) and games of chance (human fruit machine, chocolate tombola, game of chance and the raffle).

Our ringmaster (other than Jaimée) was Julie who pulled everything together despite much adversity. Thanks also goes to those who volunteered to take (a) part and of course to all the people who came and guessed, rolled, bought and ate.

Thank you all! 

The result of the Egg Roll was (sponsored by the security rats)

1st - Brigitte with 22 Points
2nd - Noel with 19 points
= 3rd - Oliver and Dorothea with 18 points

with 16 points (or a few less) were - Margaret, Sonia, Peregrine, Lady P, The Twins, Yoke, Maggi, Daisy, Julie, Emily, Lucas, Gabriella, Annie, Tony, Flora, Mia and Elliott.

Given the dodgy eggs a great performance by all!

Circus Fair 6th June 2026

Our Circus themed Summer Fair is happening on Saturday 6th June at 11.30am - 3.30pm.

Hone your Circus Skills
Walk the tight rope
Spin a plate
Topple a Clown

There will be a BBQ.

St John’s Church Hall
Clareville Road
Caterham Valley

St John's Church is Open

Munch with Music - June 2026

Beating the Bounds 2026

Rogation Sunday
10 May 2026

After a three year break, St John's once again Beat the Bounds. Three years ago suntan cream was advisable, this time it was not.Nevertheless, a quartet set out to circumnavigate the parish, pray to God for all that is included within and have a bit of healthy exercise. Church Hill soon bought the exercise element into clear focus, but once conquered set us up for the run down to Caterham School.

Passing the woods where St John's Forest Church hangs out, we climbed up towards View Point where reinforcements and lunch awaited. Jaimée took pity on me and lent me a brolly so I was mostly dry while I ate. Hobbit, not being a daft dog, took refuge in the Lord and disappeared up the Vicar's jumper!

Onwards and downwards and then very much upwards. After crossing the A22 by bridge, the long steep haul up the downs on the other side took some determination and a great deal of breath. Green fields spread out before us, but this time instead of a herd of cattle, just the solitary cow who was gathering her two calves while keeping an eye on the unfamiliar humans.

Heading towards the northen edge of the parish, the A22 was recrossed by bridge and we headed home to St John's via footpaths above the town.

A different second experience, more reflective than the first, I pondered on the noise pollution that seems too prevalent in too much of the parish and on the umbrella I forgot to return to its owner.

Forest Church 2026!

All sessions are free, on Saturdays at 3pm, at Caterham School Pre-Prep Outdoor Learning Area, which is next to the pre-prep car park. 

• 11th July: Wild Music (we will be making musical instruments from natural things like bamboo, sticks, coconuts etc) and using them to praise God! 
• 1st August: BUGS & the little details of God's creation 
• 29th August: Footprints & Next Steps 

There will be a Christmas session, "Carols under the Stars", the date for that is yet to be confirmed.

Bingo!

A walk around the parish boundary this Sunday May 10th!

We will start at church after the service (11:45am) and make our way up to View Point via Church Hill for a picnic.

The boundary path then takes us along the North Downs Way to Tillingdown, back down to Wapses Lodge roundabout and back along Stafford Road. You don’t have to do all of the walk, just what you feel up to.

If you don’t feel you can do any, then just come and join us for lunch. The walk will be interspersed with prayers and readings as we remember Gods wonderful creation and those who work and live in our community.

Please talk to Susan if you want to know more.

The video is from our last journey round the parish in 2023.

St John's Quiz Night - 25 April 2026

They came, they saw, they guessed wildly.

Six teams joined the fray, but only one could triumph. It was nip and tuck for most of the quiz, with places and postcodes causing a great deal of thought and head scratching.

By the end of the six rounds, there was a clear leader, but would the 'books of the Bible' marathon round change that? 'Clangers' did manage to close the gap, but 'Universally Challenged' held on to win!

An enjoyable night with one team so confident they released a team member early!

Many thanks to the fundraising team and especially to Julie who guided the event through to a successful conclusion.

QUIZ NIGHT

25th APRIL 2026

St. John’s
Church Hall
Clareville Road
Catrham
CR3 6LA

Teams of 6 made up beforehand or join a group on the night.

6.40pm for 7pm prompt start.

Please bring your own drink, glasses, nibbles and money for the raffle.

TICKETS £10
stjohnschurchcaterham@outlook.com

Profit will be going to
St. John’s Church Accessibility Project